Fall Packet 2016-2017

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

Summer Greetings ! Though many summer days remain before the first day of school on Tuesday, August 30, this packet is being sent in order to update everyone with information that will allow for you to prepare for the start of the 2016/2017 school year. This packet is being sent to all BHS families electronically, and can also be found on our new BHS website address:http://bhs.bownet.org.

Though most our correspondence now takes place electronically, there are still paper forms that will need to be submitted for a variety of purposes. These forms can be reviewed electronically and printed at home, or stop by Bow High School where we will have extra copies available in the main lobby. We will also place additional copies of these forms at the Baker Free Library.

Each new school year brings changes, and this year is no exception. Here are some highlights:

We are moving into the second year of our 1:1 Chromebook initiative, with our freshmen and sophomore classes participating for the coming school year.

As a result of vacancies created by recent faculty departures and an overall increase in our school population, we will again welcome new faculty and staff to Bow High School for the coming school year. These include Assistant Principal Tim Girzone and Dean of Academics Heidi Pauer, as well new Math and English teachers, and assorted support staff. In addition, Jennifer Leger is our new Main Office secretary, who came on board at the end of the last school year.

Last year we launched the Bow and Dunbarton Wellness Coalition whose purpose is to raise awareness and develop effective community strategies to address drug and alcohol use among our youth. We will be sending out information to parents and the community throughout the coming year, and are seeking greater community participation and support. Here is a link to the most recentYouth Risk BehaviorSurvey, which our students take every two years.

Our School Safety Committee continues to work hard to develop effective strategies to maintain a Secure Campus while also maintaining an Open Campus for eligible junior and senior students. Please support our efforts to maintain a Safe Campus by not dismissing students unnecessarily during the school day.

We continue to add learning supports for students outside of their normal class schedule, with Learning Labs staffed by faculty available to students throughout the school day. Our Learning Commons and Atrium will be staffed this coming year with faculty and NHS students to offer academic assistance to all students.

Summer school as we used to know it no longer exists. Instead, we are offering Response to Intervention – RtI throughout the school year to support student learning and credit recovery.

Our school cafeteria has undergone a significant upgrade this summer, and more lunch options will be available than ever before. We will no longer permit students to eat their meals in the lobby, and will require that students now eat their meals in the cafeteria. Students are not permitted to have food delivered to them during the school day .

In recent years we have seen a steady growth in the numbers of students taking Concurrent Enrollment courses, which is fully explained in our Program of Studies. This provides students with the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. With college costs steadily increasing, this is a very helpful option for students pursuing college degrees.

While parking and athletic forms will need to be turned in earlier, all other completed forms should be turned in by students during advisory period on the first day of school, which is Tuesday, August 30, 2016, which will be a Monday schedule (periods 1-8).

The links and checklist to information included for this 2016 Fall Packet is provided below:

Please review the eligibility criteria listed on the Open Campus form closely. In order to be eligible to receive a Parking Permit, all previous

fees must be paid in full. Parking permits are only issued to eligible Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores. Eligible Juniors and Seniors applying

for Parking Permits must also submit their signed Early Release/Late Arrival forms in order to receive a Parking Permit. Sophomores are not

eligible for Late Arrival/Early Release.

Seniors will be issued parking permits beginning the week of August 15 (and after). Juniors will be issued parking permits on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, beginning August 22. When all parking permits have been distributed, other students may park in the dirt lot for no fee.

Students must have a current NH driver’s license and vehicle registration (of the car they will be driving) with them when submitting a Parking Permit application. Students are required to maintain academic and behavioral eligibility each quarter in order to be eligible for the privilege of Late Arrival/Early Release.

As I approach my 11th and final year as Bow High School’s principal, I am proud of what we have accomplished together and look forward to what awaits us with the coming school year. But for now, rest, relax and rejuvenate! See you soon!